Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Trying to aggravate a tough language-arts teacher, a fifth-grade boy invents a new word for pen: "frindle." Soon, the whole country is using it. "Dictionary lovers will cotton to this mild classroom fantasy," said PW. Ages 8-12. (Feb.)
School Library Journal
Gr 3-6-By Andrew Clements. Nicholas Allen likes to liven things up at Lincoln Elementary. But nobody gets away with anything in Mrs. Granger's language art class, plus she is a fanatic about the dictionary. When Nick invents a new word for a pen-frindle-the excitement grows beyond the school and town.
Kirkus Reviews
Nicholas is a bright boy who likes to make trouble at school, creatively. When he decides to torment his fifth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Granger (who is just as smart as he is), by getting everyone in the class to replace the word "pen" with "frindle," he unleashes a series of events that rapidly spins out of control.
If there's any justice in the world, Clements (Temple Cat, 1995, etc.) may have something of a classic on his hands. By turns amusing and adroit, this first novel is also utterly satisfying. The chess like sparring between the gifted Nicholas and his crafty teacher is enthralling, while Mrs. Granger is that rarest of the breed: a teacher the children fear and complain about for the school year, and love and respect forever after. With comically realistic black-and-white illustrations by Selznick (The Robot King, 1995, etc.), this is a captivating tale—one to press upon children, and one they'll be passing among themselves.
From the Publisher
"Will have readers smiling all the way through...hilarious." — The Horn Book, starred review
"A captivating tale — one to press upon children, and one they'll be passing among themselves." — Kirkus, pointered review
SEPTEMBER 2009 - AudioFile
Andrew Clements writes realistic stories that bring life to the classroom. Nick Allen has a reputation at Lincoln Elementary School—he’s got strategies for getting teachers off track and derailing lesson plans with diversionary tactics. But he meets his match with fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Granger. She turns the tables on Nick and calls his bluff, setting in motion a real-world learning lab. Keith Nobbs tells the story with humor, energy, and respect for the characters. He makes Nick, who could easily become a wisecracking teacher's nightmare, into a creative, curious boy who loves to stir things up as he chafes at the restrictions of classroom learning. This story is a celebration of the power of learning. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
